Kate’s brothers, Brian and Denis and her ten year old sister Helen had been warned to expect changes in Kate, and knew that some of the spring would leave her step with the loss of her sweetheart, but the change wrought by Will's death was immediate and complete.

Gone was the laughing girl, who sang as she worked, her joy in life was dimmed, as if a shawl had been thrown over it.  Her eyes still shone with health, but no longer twinkled with mirth.  Her long, curly black hair, once as bouncy and uncontrollable as her self, now lay obediently beneath the confines of her cap.  From an enthusiasm for life that had seemed impossible to quell, it now emerged that the only words that could mobilise her, were "Kate, can you help me?"   
 

Gradually things became more normal in the Armstrong household, but not as they had been.  Desmond decided not to try to find a replacement for Will, Brian was long overdue for more responsibility in the stables, and Denis was old enough to take over most, if not all of his brother's chores.  

Kate took on more of her mother's housekeeping duties, in order, Katherine said, to keep her mind occupied, but in fact because Katherine’s health was failing.  Never a strong woman, she had borne only four living children, but numerous miscarriages had sapped what little strength she had, and the disappointment and guilt, which accompanied each unproductive pregnancy, had done the rest. 

Katherine lived only two more years, during which time, Kate gradually took over the running of the house completely.  It was Kate who decided when Helen finished with lessons and started her training in housewifely duties, when her skirts should be lengthened, and her hair could be worn `up'. 

She decided when it was time for spring-cleaning, and when to bottle the preserves.  It was even she who decided that the house, which was to have been her wedding gift from her parents, should not be sold, but leased, the money used to keep it in good repair, and the residue put into an account in the joint names of her brothers.  

She loved her family dearly, and was always a very benevolent dictator.  Desmond and the boys, from time to time, brought young men home for a meal, or to stay for a few days, and Kate always made them feel welcome, but only as friends of her father, or her brothers as the case may be.  None were allowed to get close enough to think they might be friends of Kate too. 

It was Kate also who took over her Mother’s task of writing letters.  James and Charlotte Glebe in Glasgow were old friends of her parent’s, and after her mother's death, Kate enjoyed the lively letters from the minister, usually followed by a practical P.S. from Charlotte, which she read to the family at the breakfast table.

 "Oh!  Listen Father, James says there is a blood-stock sale on the twenty-third, at East Kilbride."  She said, one day early in 1886 and then quoted from the letter, "Which would not necessitate an over-night stay in that town as an early start from Alexander Parade would see us there well before the start of bidding."
  
“Would you be interested Father?" asked Brian, looking up from his plate.
"I might", answered his father, "It's quite a while since I crossed the water.  Does James say who might be selling?" he said turning to Kate. 
"Yes indeed, there's a list here." she replied, passing a sheet of paper across the table.
 "What does Charlotte say?"  Asked Helen. 
"Well!  She suggests that if Father decides to go, I should accompany him, and renew my friendship with Mary and Isobel." 

Kate decided that Helen was capable enough to leave in charge, with the help of the worthy Mary McCafferty while she had a short break.  Therefore she was present when her Father met Mary Glebe, and realised that his mourning period was over, and he was ready to take a new wife. 

She and Mary had far too much respect for each other to think that they would be able to share a home indefinitely.   There was no great rush for Kate to leave, and it wasn’t until three years had passed and Mary gave birth to her second son, James, that Kate informed the family of her proposal.

They were all gathered around the breakfast table, which was usually the place where news was divulged or questions asked, when she dropped her bombshell. 

The stud was doing well, and gave them all a good living, but what about the future? She eased gently into the subject. Brian and Denis were grown to manhood, and Helen was betrothed to a young man from Londonderry.  Desmond was forty-nine, not an old man, and he and Mary, still had time to give Callum and James more brothers and sisters, and it was time that Mary had her kitchen to herself. 

  What did they all think of the idea of Brian and Denis emigrating to New South Wales?